Multi-axis pivot joints and surgical instrument drive shafts formed using additive manufacturing methods.

A flexible coupling includes an input coupler including an inner face, an output coupler including an inner face, and a plurality of rigid linkages. Each rigid linkage is coupled between an input attachment point coupled to the inner face of the input coupler and an output attachment point coupled to the inner face of the output coupler. Each rigid linkage is pivotably and slidably coupled to the input attachment point and the output attachment point.

A flexible coupling includes an input coupler including an inner face, an output coupler including an inner face, and a plurality of rigid linkages. Each rigid linkage is coupled between an input attachment point coupled to the inner face of the input coupler and an output attachment point coupled to the inner face of the output coupler. Each rigid linkage is pivotably and slidably coupled to the input attachment point and the output attachment point.

A tool for installing segments of a coupling having male and female couplers drivingly engaged to one another by the segments, the tool has: a coupler-engaging section engageable to the a female coupler of the couplers for radially supporting the tool relative to the female coupler about a rotation axis of the coupling; and a peripheral wall secured to the coupler-engaging section and extending circumferentially around the rotation axis, a diameter (D2) of the peripheral wall selected to allow insertion of the segments between the female coupler and the peripheral wall, the peripheral wall defining an abutting surface against which radially inner ends of the segments abut during insertion of the segments between the female coupler and the peripheral wall.

A cord package supporting device for supporting a cord package wound with a cord, such as for an elastic joint disk for connecting two shaft portions, is disclosed. The cord package includes two opposite arcuate cord regions and two tangential cord regions that connect the arcuate cord regions to each other and extend parallel to each other. In embodiments, the cord package supporting device includes a first redirecting portion and a second redirecting portion, about which in each case one arcuate cord region of the cord package is guided. In embodiments, the two redirecting portions are integrally connected to each other via a web. An elastic joint disk and a method for producing an elastic joint disk are also disclosed.

A cord package supporting device for supporting a cord package wound with a cord, such as for an elastic joint disk for connecting two shaft portions, is disclosed. The cord package includes two opposite arcuate cord regions and two tangential cord regions that connect the arcuate cord regions to each other and extend parallel to each other. In embodiments, the cord package supporting device includes a first redirecting portion and a second redirecting portion, about which in each case one arcuate cord region of the cord package is guided. In embodiments, the two redirecting portions are integrally connected to each other via a web. An elastic joint disk and a method for producing an elastic joint disk are also disclosed.

A compressively resilient bushing useful for aligning shafts and couplings and adjusting shaft misalignment. They find use as component parts of shaft, and other coupling devices. It comprises a cylindrical sleeve having an outer wall, and a hollow core through. The cylindrical sleeve defines an inner wall of the cylindrical sleeve. The hollow core extends longitudinally from a top to a bottom of the cylindrical sleeve. The cylindrical sleeve comprises a compressively resilient material. Grooves through the outer wall are around a circumference of the cylindrical sleeve. T-shaped grooves through the outer wall extend longitudinally from the top to the bottom of the cylindrical sleeve. Each T-shape groove has a ledge partially overlapping from the top to the bottom of the cylindrical sleeve at opposite sides of. Said T-shape grooves and the ledges extend from the top to the bottom of the cylindrical sleeve.

A compressively resilient bushing useful for aligning shafts and couplings and adjusting shaft misalignment. They find use as component parts of shaft, and other coupling devices. It comprises a cylindrical sleeve having an outer wall, and a hollow core through. The cylindrical sleeve defines an inner wall of the cylindrical sleeve. The hollow core extends longitudinally from a top to a bottom of the cylindrical sleeve. The cylindrical sleeve comprises a compressively resilient material. Grooves through the outer wall are around a circumference of the cylindrical sleeve. T-shaped grooves through the outer wall extend longitudinally from the top to the bottom of the cylindrical sleeve. Each T-shape groove has a ledge partially overlapping from the top to the bottom of the cylindrical sleeve at opposite sides of. Said T-shape grooves and the ledges extend from the top to the bottom of the cylindrical sleeve.

A coupling suitable for use in a flexible shaft includes a first and second shaft engagement means each having a central axis, a spacer means having a central axis, and a number of support wires. A first set of support wires each extends between the first shaft engagement means and the spacer means one or more times, the first set of support wires comprises at least one support wire, and the first and second shaft engagement means and the spacer means have a common axis (A) when the coupling means is not subject to any misalignment.

A flexible coupling between two shafts. The flexible coupling includes a spacer element inserted between an actuating shaft or a drive shaft and an actuated shaft or a load shaft. The flexible coupling includes an assembly of articulated connecting rods at both points of connection. The articulated connecting rods respectively linking the two elements to be connected. All of the connecting rods on both ends being articulated in ball joints used to facilitate the rotation of the connecting rods in any direction.